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Bobby Fischer Is Dead at 64

Bobby Fischer, the mercurial American champion, has died in Iceland, his adopted home. In his later years, he had become a pariah in the chess world because of his strident anti-Americanism and antisemitism, but even that could not detract from his contributions and impact on the chess board. Although he essentially quit chess after winning the title in 1972 in his epic match with Boris Spassky (coming back only in 1992 for another match with Spassky that drew worldwide interest), he raised interest in chess to unprecedented levels and changed the game profoundly. Garry Kasparov, the former world champion, in the fourth book of his series “My Great Predecessors,” a volume largely devoted to Fischer, wrote, “He abandoned the game at the age of 29, and only really played for just ten years, but he succeeded in achieving more in chess than anyone else!”

Long before there were computers, Fischer amassed vast knowledge about the game by studying it tirelessly. Although he did not speak Russian or German, he acquired chess books in those languages and figured out how to read them, digesting their information, refining it and making it his own. His work ethic when he played was the same as when he studied. Kasparov, in an interview from his home in Moscow, said, “He exhausted himself, his opponent and all the resources at the chess board.”

Despite universal acclaim for his talent, Fischer as a person was not always so admired. Larry Evans, the grandmaster, who worked with Fischer from 1970 through his championship match in 1972, described Fischer as a friend, at least at one time, but he said today in a telephone interview, “As a human being, he left much to be desired.” Evans speculated that his reclusiveness and “wacky” behavior in his later life probably drove almost everyone away. Evans said, “He ended up with no real friends because he was never a friend to anyone.”

Which games will Fischer be remembered for? Certainly his win against Donald Byrne at the Rosenwald Memorial in 1956, when Fischer was only 13. Also his win over Robert Byrne, Donald’s older brother, at the 1963-4 United States Championship, a game in which as Byrne said, “The culminating combination is of such depth that, even at the very moment at which I resigned, both grandmasters who were commenting on the play for the spectators in a separate room believed that I had a won game!” And, of course, his performance in the 1972 championship, where he outclassed Spassky.

An absolute must read offering insight into this most troubled genius.
But then, you probably have already read it.
The Day Bobby Blew It in Halberstam, D., The Best American Sportswriting of the Century (Houghton Mifflin 1999) (originally in Life) ISBN 0-395-94514-3
Riveting stuff

Great achievements, but in the end a sad story. Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth” comes to mind – from Wikipedia:

” … the play (centered) on the question of Macbeth’s ambition, commonly seen as so dominant a trait that it defines the character. Johnson asserted that Macbeth, though esteemed for his military bravery, is wholly reviled.”

Bobby Fischer was my first true chess teacher. I memorized his book “My 60 memorable games” including annotations more than 20 years ago! What a fantastic player and what lucid explanations. he single handedly promoted chess to its great height and inspired millions to play and enjoy chess including myself. The world just lost one of the greatest chess players ever. Rest in peace Bobby.

Yes, Fischer was a chess giant, and it was impressive how, in his younger years, he toyed with some of the greats at the highest levels of competition. Also, his contributions to the world’s chess literature, and the chronicles of his great games, will always be here. Yet, he was not only pathologically antisocial; he was organically one of the sickest pubic figures in history. Where are the “friends” who might have tried getting him help these past forty years? I will take a Kasparov, no less a genius and someone truly attempting to change his world for the better.

Bobby Fisher will be missed. Would have liked to see more positive mention of his many accomplishments. No one mentioned he was US chess champion as a 14 year old kid in 1957!? And I remember the double page spread in Sports Illustrated giving all the games in in his eleven-zip sweep of US Chess Championship in 1964–unprecedented coverage of chess back then.
It seems that after the fall of the USSR, the huge chutzpah with which he directed his scorn on the Soviet Union blaming them for fixing Russian players games (now generally accepted as a true charge) which him beloved as an irascible American John McEnroe type) later got misdirected to other targets by people who manipulated him and took his money. To call him an anti-semite or anti-American is hugely ironic, though it is well documented in his later life; since he obviously inherited his chutzpah from his nice, but fiercely determined *Jewish* mother Regina, and his accomplishments on the chessboard from the late 50’s to the 70’s made him an iconic *American* sports figure. I think we all know his ranting in later life was just an eccentric mechanism which in his mind, he used to balance perceived slights, as with the Russians, or in reaction to the profile he was given long ago in an interview by Alan Ginzberg, for example.

Bobby Fischer was perhaps the greatest player ever to play the game. His scorched-earth path through the qualifying events leading to his 1972 World Championship title will never be equaled. Before meeting Spassky in Reykjavik to play for the world title, Bobby defeated Mark Taimanov 6-0, Bent Larsen 6-0, and former world champion Tigran Petrosian 6.5 – 2.5. Unfortunately, Fischer’s life post-1972 was plagued by problems not entirely of his own making. RIP, Bobby, you’ve got some peace at last.

Capablanca, Lasker, Alekhine, Botwinnick, Nimzowitz, Murphy, Steinitz, Tchigorin, Tal, Reshevsky, Najdorf…they are all welcoming Fischer and today playing the strongest rated tournament ever in Heaven with no time contraints…May all their brilliant games remain forever in our memories…We love you…

Fischer helped me communicate with my father. As a young kid, the only sport I had in common with my Italian immigrant father was chess, as I couldn’t get into soccer, and he couldn’t get into American sports. But we bonded (a bit) about how great Fischer’s games were, and how crazy his behavior was, too.

One of the most enjoyable parts of my life was as a pre-teen following the Fischer-Spassky match and becoming a bit of a child prodigy myself. Soon, girls and other distractions tugged me away from my true first love, but I have such wonderful memories. And though I despise what Fischer became, what he was and what he did for me and tens of thousands of others who enjoyed the game, I can only thank him for. I hope he’s found peace.

Long after he reached the pinnacle of the chess world, he always treated amateur chess players as simply fellow chessplayers, and analyzed patiently with those of us who spent any time with him near a chessboard, as I was lucky enough to do for one magical evening nearly twenty years ago.

In time, his eccentricities will be forgotten, and the genius of his small but astonishing body of games and analysis will remain – the legacy of one who carried the quest for truth in the game further than anyone ever had, and further than few may ever go. RIP, Bobby.

As a human being he was an absolute disgrace. It makes me ill to see so many people forgiving (or at least downplaying) his sick genocidal rants. Chess is just a game and his greatness in a game doesn’t make me feel any sorrow at his passing.

A pioneer, a true genius, and a tormented soul. The world of chess owes him a debt of gratitude for his contributions on and off the board. The general public would never have had the opportunity to be exposed to chess without him, and for that we should thank him. May he finally rest in peace. His illness certainly didn’t allow him any peace while alive.

There is no question that much of Mr. Fischer’s life away from the board, particularly the racist and lunatic-fringe right wing rhetoric, was contemptible. Yet, there are millions of people who owe him a debt of gratitude, myself among them. I learned to play chess from my father and a chess book the year that I turned nine–1972. There is no doubt in my mind that without the interest generated by the Fischer-Spassky match I, like so many others, would not be playing and enjoying this beautiful game today. Moreover, his games remain as jewels to be treasured by chess players for ages to come.

Thank you Mr. Fischer, and may you find the peace that so eluded you in life.

Per Vin’s comment #11, it is only “Fischer the man” that keeps me from comparing this sad day to the day Babe Ruth died. But Fischer the player can be relived on one’s home chessboard in a manner that no baseball player ever can.

fischer’s death is a huge loss for world chess.he was a man i) who had fanatic faith in his chess playing abilities, his charisma ii) who brought name/fame/professionalism into chess iv)who uncompromisingly fought for a win irrespective of colour/quite unlike today’s ‘masters’ who play for a win with white and play for a draw with black!v)who was a pioneer/who knew the secrets of such popular openings like sicilian and king’s indian defences. remember, kasparov played exactly these openings in many of his games.
let us forget/forgive fischer’s provocative politics. he was a chess legend , nay HE IS THE ULTIMATE CHESS LEGEND. THAT’S ENOUGH.

Bobby : chess fans around the world will miss you. Your hard work, patience , enthusiasm and dedication towards chess made it widely known in all places of planet earth , even in distant galaxies you will be remembered forever…That´s the legacy of a genius with lots of unstopable energy , the power of lightning your own´s fire.

And patience at the chess board was necesary as one of your main ingredients for such beautiful games you played . Every man of genius sees the world at a different angle from ordinary peopleant his was your tragedy .I´ll pray for your sould and I surely will play against you in Heaven.
Bobby RIP . Amen.

Carlos Pulido

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In its 1,500-year history, chess has imbedded itself in the world's culture and vocabulary. Ideas, terms and images from the game have long been used as proxies for intelligence and complexity. But chess is more than a diversion. Thousands worldwide play professionally or earn a living by teaching it to children. The Internet has transformed the game, making it easy for players anywhere to find an opponent day or night. Chess computers, originally developed to test the bounds of artificial intelligence, now play better than grandmasters. This blog will cover tournaments and events, trends and developments. Reader comments and questions will be more than welcome.

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